Apparatus for texturing or drawing and texturing synthetic yarns

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for texturing synthetic thermoplastic yarn is in the form of a self-contained machine unit comprising a long straight support spline with which a drive transmission shaft is coextensive, the spline carrying at least one set of yarn feed rolls, a heater and a yarn texturing mechanism. The feed rolls are at one end of the spline and drivably connected to the transmission shaft, and at the other end of the spline a belt pulley also connected to the shaft can be belt coupled to a drive motor individual to the machine unit. Multiple machine units can be mounted in inclined spaced parallel disposition on a framework, as a horizontal row, to build a machine. The framework supports the motors for the machine units, and also optional setting apparatuses and winding assemblies associated with the machine units to form production units. Detachable spline extensions carry further feed rolls for co-operation with the first feed rolls for drawing yarn prior to texturing.

1 APPARATUS FOR TEXTURKNG OR DRAWING AND TEXTUIRHNG SYNTHETIC YARNS [75] Inventor: Walter Ernst, Guttingen, Thurgau,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Ernest Scragg & Sons Limited,

Macclesfield, England [22] Filed: June 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 264,129

[30] Foreign Appllication Priority Data June 19, 1971 Germany 2130551 [52] C1. 57/34 HS, 57/34 R, 57/157 R, 57/157 TS [51] llnt. C1 D02g 1/02 [58] Field 01 Search... 57/34 R, 34 HS, 36, 5l5l.6, 57/92, 93, 100, 104, 112, 136, 157 R, 157 S, 157 TS, 157 MS, 77.45

[ 1 Feb, 12, 1974 Mattingly et a1 57/34 HS ONeill 57/36 X Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker 7 ATRACT texturing mechanism. The feed rolls are at one end of the spline and drivably connected to the transmission shaft, and at the other end of the spline a belt pulley also connected to the shaft can be belt coupled to a drive motor individual to the machine unit. Multiple machine units can be mounted in inclined spaced parallel disposition on a framework, as a horizontal row, to build a machine. The framework supports the m0- tors for the machine units, and also optional setting apparatuses and winding assemblies associated with the machine units to form production units. Detachable spline extensions carry further feed rolls for cooperation with the first feed rolls for drawing yarn prior to texturing.

8 Chims, 11 Drawing Figures ski-91.121

PATENTEDFEB 12 E174 PATENTEDFEB l 2 I974 379L121 sum 3 [W6 PATENTEDFEBIZIHM sum 5 or 5 PATENTEDFEMZ IBM 3791; 121

SHEET 8 BF 6 APPARATUS FOR TEXTURING R DRAWKNG ANll) TEXTURHNG SYNTHETIC YARNS This invention relates to apparatus for producing textured synthetic continuous-filament thermoplastic yarn by the well-known false twist process.

it is known to feed undrawn yarn from a spinning cake, to draw it, and to wind it on cops. it is also known to subject drawn yarn to a texturing process in which yarn fed from a cop is heated in any suitable manner and is then false-twisted, the textured yarn then being wound up as a bobbin or package.

Further, machines are known in which drawn yarn is textured as above described, but before being wound up is heat set in a partially relaxed condition and the heat set yarn is then wound up for further use.

it has also been proposed that false twist crimping machines should be provided with means for drawing yarn, either immediately before or during the texturing process effected by heating and false twist crimping, but in general these processes are more often carried out on machines adapted only for a single process, and in order to achieve high production rates these machines are arranged as a large number of adjacent stations in one or more rows, so that in constructing a machine there is assembled together all the parts needed for a particular process, especially the driving mechanism where a machine comprises two hundred or more stations.

For example in a yarn drawing machine, the draw mechanisms of all stations of one row are connected to a common drive, and in a false-twist crimping machine the drives of the false-twist mechanisms are coupled to a common drive, as also are the yarn forwarding and take-up mechanisms.

The construction of a machine as a large number of adjacent stations in a row not only requires powerful motors for driving the whole row, but because of the substantial length of the row also requires the use of long transmission members such as shafts and the like, as well as variable gears. Since the shafts must transmit high torque loads, and on the grounds of costs will have relatively few bearings, in the transmission shafts and mechanisms there is the problem of large components of heavy weight. t

if the same components of many stations units are connected together, drive speed variations can occur as between rows of stations in different sections of the same machine, for example in a yarn drawing machine between the feed rolls and the draw rolls as a result of variations in the characteristics of different drive motors. To eliminate these faults relatively complicated controls are needed. Variations occur in the rotational speeds of spindles, with corresponding variations in process uniformity between one spindle and another as well as between rows of spindles.

The large masses of the drive transmission members do not permit high working speeds to be reached, the maximum being about 200 metres per minute.

When a yarn breaks it is often unavoidable that a socalled lap is formed about yarn feed rolls. During threading-up the presser rolls of feed roll pairs can be disengaged and halted, but both lap removal and threading-up is done on rotating rolls and by reaching past driving belts, and these tasks require great skill and can involve the loss of a finger by a machine operator,

so that there comes a definite fear of working on the machine.

The object of the invention is to provide apparatus for the production of textured yarn, or drawn and tex' tured yarn, which besides providing for processes such as drawing, texturing and setting, provides increased production rates and improved uniformity of yarn quality.

According to the invention apparatus for texturing synthetic continuous-filament thermoplastic yarn is in the form of a machine unit comprising an elongate narrow linear support member providing a spline 'on which is mounted at least one yarn forwarding mechanism, yarn heating means, yarn texturing means and drive transmission means co-extensive with the spline, the yarn forwarding mechanism being located in the region of one end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, and a coupling element adapted for connection with a driving motor being located in the region of the other end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means.

An auxiliary support member may be provided, which is releasably secured to that end of the spline where the yarn forwarding mechanism is located so as to form an extension of the spline, another yarn forwarding mechanism being mounted on the spline extension and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, the two yarn forwarding mechanisms together providing a yarn drawing system.

Further according to the invention, a machine for simultaneously texturing multiple synthetic thermoplastic yarns comprises a framework providing a mounting for multiple removable individual machine units each comprising an elongate narrow linear support member providing a spline on which is mounted at least one yarn forwarding mechanism, yarn heating means, yarn texturing means and drive transmission means coextensive with the spline, the yarn forwarding mechanism being located in the region of one end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, and a coupling element being located in the region of the other end of the spline, and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means and also releasably drivably connected with an individual driving motor mounted on the framework adjacent said other end of the spline.

An auxiliary support member may be provided, which is releasably .secured to that end of the spline where the yarn forwarding mechanism is located so as to form an extension of the spline, another yarn forwarding mechanism being mounted on-the spline extension and being releasably drivably connected with the drive transmisson means, the two yarn forwarding mechanisms together provididng a yarn drawing system. v

Preferably the machine units are mounted on the framework arranged in a horizontally extending row lying in a common upright plane, the splines of the machine units being parallel one with another and being inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 10 to 60, so that the splines in the row overlap one another in their common upright plane.

The framework may also carry, for each machine unit, a setting apparatus for the textured yarn which comprises second heating means through which the textured yarn is passed for modifying its final elasticity.

The textured yarn is overfed through the setting apparatus with a predetermined degree of overfeed to be heat set in a partially relaxed condition as yarn having a relatively high final elasticity or a relatively slight final elasticity, according to the degree of overfeed of 5 the yarn through the heater of the setting apparatus.

The setting apparatus may be disposed in an upright disposition, or it may be disposed in an inclined disposition and is oppositely inclined relative to its associated machine unit, and the individual motor which drives a machine unit may also drive yarn forwarding mechanisms of the setting apparatus, as well as a windup assembly for the textured or the textured and heat set yarn.

The invention provides a basic machine unit which in itself is a texturing apparatus, while the drawing apparatus and the setting apparatus are optional extras which can be added to the basic unit at will when it is mounted on a suitable framework, with the drawing apparatus,the basic machine unit, the setting apparatus and the wind-up assembly forming a functionally homogenous production unit, the drives for the rotating parts of which are taken from an individual drive motor supplying only this one production unit.

This gives a reduction to a minimum of the mass to be rotated, avoiding the usual machine-length shafts, complicated gearing and the like, and also achieves substantially higher yarn throughput speeds of the order of 1200 metres per minute. Production units can be arranged in desired number in rows on a framework, without the production units being in functional connection with each other through a drive transmission or the like, which in known machines needed the provision of a so-called machine head.

The question of space is important, and the invention provides that a producer or user of textured yarn can acquire exactly the number of production units he requires and arrange them independently in rows on a suitable framework.

To thread-up or repair yarn breaks it is necessary to stop only one production unit by stopping its individual motor, and the machine operator does not have to deal with any rotating parts. Lap formation on yarn breakage does not occur because the whole production unit can be stopped by a break-detector controlling the motor of that unit. Stopping the production units for cleaning purposes minimises the risk of accidents.

When the drive motor speed is varied it affects equally all components of the production unit so that their speed relationship remain constant, for example the yarn forwarding mechanisms of the yarn drawing system maintain a constant draw ratio.

Because of the reduction in rotating masses the noise level of the individual production units is low, as also is the noise level ofa multi-unit machine in comparison with conventional multi-staition machines, so that sound-damping floor and wall coverings are unnecessary, as also are ear muffs for operators whose performance characteristics show improvement. Living quarters in the neighbourhood of a factory are not disturbed because of the low noise level, despite increased production rates achieved by the production units.

A machine comprising a framework on which production units are mounted can be used for several processes.

When only basic machine units and wind-up assem blies are used, yarn from draw-cops can be textured and wound up into bobbins or packages.

When the drawing system is added both drawn and textured yarn can be processed from spinning bobbins of undrawn yarn, and by adding the setting apparatus either textured and set yarn, or drawn, textured and set yarn can be processed from draw-cops or spinning bobbins respectively, so that with a relatively small capital cost good process adaptability is obtained.

The basic machine unit, which includes the spline and its optional extension, has the drawing system, yarn infeed rollers, the texturing heater and the yarn texturing means arranged along a straight line, which provides for easy threading-up and for easy exchange of individual components or the whole machine unit, and also achieves better quality of the textured yarn especially as regards dye affinity and uniformity of dyeing. The dispostion of machine units on a framework at an angle of inclination of 10 to to the horizontal leads to a saving in machine height, especially when long texturing heaters are employed.

Toothed wheels and toothed belts can be used with advantage to provide non-slip drive from the individual driving motor to the drive transmission means carried by the spline, and to the yarn texturing means, the yarn forwarding mechanisms, 'and the wind-up assembly. The basic machine units, and the production units of which they form part, can be arranged each to process one yarn, or to process two yarns simultaneously.

The invention will now be described with reference to the examples shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1. is a schematic diagram showing a production unit with a vertically disposed setting apparatus.

FIG. 2. corresponds with FIG. 1., but shows an inclined disposition of the setting apparatus.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show, in side elevation and plan view respectively the basic machine unit according to the invention arranged at an inclination, with yarn forwarding mechanism, yarn heating means, yarn texturing means, and a drive motor with further yarn forwarding means, all components being indicated schematically.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show, in schematic side elevation and plan view respectively, the optionally attachable drawing apparatus for the basic machine unit.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show, in schematic side elevation and side elevation respectively, a double winding assembly for addition to a basic machine unit.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show, in schematic side elevation and front elevation respectively, a setting apparatus and a double winding assembly for addition to a basic machine unit.

FIG. 11. is a schematic front elevation of a machine comprising a horizontal row of basic machine units, each with attached drawing apparatus, setting apparatus and double winding assembly forming with the basic machine unit a self-contained production unit.

Referring to the drawings, each self-contained production unit for making textured yarn, or drawn and textured yarn, by means of the basic machine unit comprises a support 1 for a spinning bobbin 2 or draw-cops 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2), a tine tensioner 4, a drawing appartus 5, a yamforwarding roller mechanism 6, a yarn texturing assembly 7 comprising a texturing heater 8 and a yarn texturing means 9 such as a false twist mechanism, another yarn forwarding system 12 and a wind-up assembly 13. When two yarns are being processed simultaneously, either two yarns are taken simultaneously from the spinning bobbin 2, with a separator inserted between them in known manner, or two drawcops 3 each feed one yarn to each production unit.

All the components of a production unit are driven from an individual electric motor 14. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 the yarn forwarding mechanism 6, the texturing heater 8 and the yarn texturing means 9 are mounted in a straight line on an elongate narrow linear support member forming a spline, cO-extensive with which is a drive transmission means comprising a shaft 22 (FIG. 4), the yarn forwarding mechanism 6 being located in the region of one end of the spline I5 and being drivably connected with the shaft 22 via bevel gears 23,24 which rotate a toothed belt wheel 25 coupled with a toothed belt wheel 27 of the yarn forwarding mechanism 6 by a toothed belt 26. In the region of the other end of the spline is a coupling element 19, also in the form of a toothed belt wheel, which is drivably connected with the shaft 22 by bevel gears 20, 21, and is also adapted for connection with a toothed wheel 17 on the shaft 16 of the driving motor 14 by a toothed belt 18, whereby the motor 14 rotates th drive transmission shaft 22 and the yarn forwarding mechanism 6.

Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 6, the support member or spline 15 is provided with an endwise projecting pin 28 on which the drawing apparatus 5 can be mounted and locked in position by a screwed peg 29 (FIG. 5), the drawing apparatus being an attachable apparatus in that it comprises an auxiliary support member 15a securable to the pin 28 of the spline 15 so as to form an extension of the spline 15. This spline extension 15a carries a further yarn forwarding mechanism 40 (FIG. 6) which is drivably connected with the drive transmission shaft 22 as explained later, and the two yarn forwarding mechanisms 6 and 40 together provide a yarn drawing system because the mechanism 6 rotates faster than the mechanism 40.

The toothed belt wheel 27 of the first yarn forwarding mechanism 6 is mounted on a shaft 30 which carries another toothed belt wheel 31, the latter being connected by a toothed belt 32 with a toothed belt wheel 38 mounted on a shaft 39 carried by the spline extension 15a, the further yarn forwarding mechanism 40 also being mounted on the shaft 39. The toothed belt wheel 31 is smaller than the toothed belt wheel 38, so that the mechanism 6 rotates faster than the mechanism 40 and draws the yarn.

The drawing apparatus itself (FIG. 5.) comprises co operating feed rolls 41 and 42 and a yarn separator pin 43 associated with the roll 41. A heated drum 44 provides the draw zone in conjunction with a snubbing pin 45 which can be angularly adjusted 360 about the drum 44 so that the amount of wrap of the yarn on the drum can be varied.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show two yarns 46 and 47 being led directly to the yarn forwarding mechanism 6 without being drawn, while FIGS. 5 and 6 show two yarns 46a and 47a being led to the drawing apparatus, drawing usually being carried out in the range of ratios of l: 3.5 to 1:4. To alter the draw ratio it is only necessary to exchange the roll 42.

As regards setting apparatus and the wind-up assembly, FIG. 1 shows a setting apparatus 11 and a wind-up apparatus 13 located in vertical disposition, while FIG. 2 shows a setting apparatus 11a in an inclined position and oppositely inclined relative to the basic machine 6 unit, which itself is inclined at between 10 to to the horizontal, preferably about 12 to 20.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the wind-up apparatus 13 of FIG. 1 without setting apparatus, directly after the feed rollers 12. On the motor shaft 16 is provided a toothed belt wheel 33 from which the toothed belt 34 connects to the wind-up assembly 13. For each yarn 46, 47 a wind-up mechanism 48, 49 is provided respectively. The yarns both run over an oiling device 50, from which one yarn 46 runs over a guide roller 51 and then to the wind-up mechanism 48 on which a precisionwound package 52 is formed. For this there is provided a spool holder 53 in known manner. A friction drive roller 54 is on a shaft 55 having a toothed belt wheel 56 over which the toothed drive belt 34 is trained. The friction roller 54 drives the winding roller 57 from which the yarn traverse guide oscillates to and fro in known manner.

Against the friction roller 54 engages the package 52 being formed on the tube 59, the package holder 53 being pivotal about an axis 60.

The other yarn 47 passes over guide rollers 61, 62 to the wind-up mechanism 49 the individual parts 53a to 59a of which are similar to the parts 53 to 59 of the wind-up mechanism 48. The drive for the wind-up mechanism 49 is also taken from the motor 14, because the shaft 55 of the wind-up mechanism 48 carries a second toothed belt wheel 63 from which a toothed belt 64 connects with a toothed belt wheel 65 on the shaft 55a of the friction 54 of the wind up mechanism 49.

When the yarn is wound up immediately after texturing, as in FIGS. 7 and 8, i.e. without using the setting apparatus 11 or 1 1a, highly elastic textured yarn is pro duced. The wind-up mechanism can produce cylindrical or double-conical packages, or twist-cops can be wound by using a ring-rail wind-up mechanism. I

When the textured yarn is to be set or stabilised, the setting apparatus 11 is included as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and also in FIG. 1. The drawn and textured yarns 46a and 47a, after running through the yarn texturing means 9, pass to the set yarn feed rolls 10 from which they are fed through the setting heater 66 via the inlet 67, the guide roller 68 and the outlet 69, to run over a guide 70 andfurther feed rolls 12 to the wind-up mechanisms 48 and 49 which are like those shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and bear like reference numerals. The setting heater 11 can be removed when not in use, and it can be in the inclined position shown at 11a ,in FIG. 2, where set yarn feed rolls are located after the heater 11a and before the vertically disposed wind-up mechanism 13. I

The yarn texturing means 9 may comprise a false twister such as a friction disc assembly or a false twist spindle, and on the shaft 16 of the motor 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is a toothed belt wheel 35 from which a toothed belt 36 is connected to a bevel gear drive 37 for the false twister 9.

FIG. 11 shows a framework comprising horizontal members 71 and uprights 72, some of which are also indicated in FIG. 3., by the use of which a machine is constructed comprising multiple individual machine units (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) mounted on the framework by means of their support members or splines 15, and mounted on the framework near one end of each machine unit is its individual drive motor 14. The machine units (FIG. 11) are mounted on the framework 71,72 in a horizontally extending row lying in a common upright plane which is vertical or substantially vertical, the splines of the machine units being parallel one with another and being inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 35 in FIG. 11, so that the splines in the row overlap one another in their common upright plane.

The framework 71,72 is shown in FIG. 11 also to provide a mounting for the setting apparatus 11 and the double wind-up assembly 48, 49 of each production unit of the assembled machine.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for texturing synthetic thermoplastic yarn, in the form of a machine unit comprising an elongate narrow linear support member providing a spline on which is mounted at least one yarn forwarding mechanism, yarn heating means, yarn texturing means and drive transmission means co-extensive with the spline, the yarn forwarding mechanism being located in the region of one end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, and a coupling element adapted for connection with a driving motor being located in the region of the other'end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and also including an auxiliary support member releasably secured to that end of the spline where the yarn forwarding means is located so as to form an extension of the spline, another yarn forwarding mechanism being mounted upon the spline extension and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, the two yarn forwarding mechanisms together providng a yarn drawing system.

3. Machine for simultaneously texturing multiple synthetic thermoplastic yarns, comprising a framework providing a mounting for multiple removable individual machine units each comprising an elongate narrow linear support member providing a spline on which is mounted at least one yarn forwarding mechanism, yarn heating means, yarn texturing means, and drive transmisson means co-extensive with the spline, the yarn forwarding mechanism being located in the region of one end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, and a coupling element being located in the region of the other end of the spline, and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means and also releasably drivably connected with an individual driving motor mounted on the framework adjacent said other end of the spline.

4. Machine according to claim 3, and including an auxilary support member which is releasably secured to that end of the spline where the yarn forwarding means is located so as to form an extension of the spline, another yam forwarding mechanism being mounted on the spline extension and being releasably drivably con nected with the drive transmission means, the two yarn forwarding mechanisms together providing a yarn drawing system.

5. Machine according to claim 3, wherein the machine units are mounted on the framework arranged in a horizontally extending row lying in a common upright plane, the splines of the machine units being parallel one with another and being inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 10 to 60 so that the splines in the row overlap one another in their common upright plane.

6. Machine according to claim 5, wherein the framework also carries, for each machine unit, a setting apparatus for the textured yarn.

7. Machine according to claim 5, wherein the setting apparatus is disposed in an inclined disposition and is oppositely inclined relative to its associated machine unit.

8. Machine according to claim 6, wherein the individual motor which drives a machine unit also drives yarn forwarding mechanisms of the setting apparatus as well as a yarn wind-up assembly. 

1. Apparatus for texturing synthetic thermoplastic yarn, in the form of a machine unit comprising an elongate narrow linear support member providing a spline on which is mounted at least one yarn forwarding mechanism, yarn heating means, yarn texturing means and drive transmission means co-extensive with the spline, the yarn forwarding mechanism being located in the region of one end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, and a coupling element adapted for connection with a driving motor being located in the region of the other end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and also including an auxiliary support member releasably secured to that end of the spline where the yarn forwarding means is located so as to form an extension of the spline, another yarn forwarding mechanism being mounted upon the spline extension and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, the two yarn forwarding mechanisms together providng a yarn drawing system.
 3. Machine for simultaneously texturing multiple synthetic thermoplastic yarns, comprising a framework providing a mounting for multiple removable individual machine units each comprising an elongate narrow linear support member providing a spline on which is Mounted at least one yarn forwarding mechanism, yarn heating means, yarn texturing means, and drive transmisson means co-extensive with the spline, the yarn forwarding mechanism being located in the region of one end of the spline and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means, and a coupling element being located in the region of the other end of the spline, and being drivably connected with the drive transmission means and also releasably drivably connected with an individual driving motor mounted on the framework adjacent said other end of the spline.
 4. Machine according to claim 3, and including an auxilary support member which is releasably secured to that end of the spline where the yarn forwarding means is located so as to form an extension of the spline, another yarn forwarding mechanism being mounted on the spline extension and being releasably drivably connected with the drive transmission means, the two yarn forwarding mechanisms together providing a yarn drawing system.
 5. Machine according to claim 3, wherein the machine units are mounted on the framework arranged in a horizontally extending row lying in a common upright plane, the splines of the machine units being parallel one with another and being inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 10* to 60* so that the splines in the row overlap one another in their common upright plane.
 6. Machine according to claim 5, wherein the framework also carries, for each machine unit, a setting apparatus for the textured yarn.
 7. Machine according to claim 5, wherein the setting apparatus is disposed in an inclined disposition and is oppositely inclined relative to its associated machine unit.
 8. Machine according to claim 6, wherein the individual motor which drives a machine unit also drives yarn forwarding mechanisms of the setting apparatus as well as a yarn wind-up assembly. 